//------------------------------// // It's A Much Bigger Family Reunion // Story: What Goes Up... // by WonderDash //------------------------------// If this was the jumping contest for the ponylympics, I would have set a world record... Probably my sub-consciousness took over, but next thing I know I'm facing the ceiling hanging on a crystal chandelier. For a moment I am so scared and surprised that my heart pounds on my chest to break out of my uniform... Silence... I start turn my head to see how high up I am, and more importantly, how am I supposed to get down? I'm not a cat that can twist their body upright while falling, and my wings are basically glued to my sides from shock. Craning my head, my eyes tell me that I'm almost ten high. This is nothing scary for a wannabe Wonderbolt, but how am I supposed to turn upright from an upside-down position? Well, I need to try. Can't stay up here forever while my friends wait for me to come down. Slowly, I release my arm and fall... First, I need to get into an upright position. I try flapping my wings, but since I'm upside down, flapping then only accelerates me downwards. Where's poison joke when you need it... With only half way through the fall left, I try something I've never done before. I flap only my right wing. This time, it works and turns me to a normal flying position. With the ground just seconds away, I instantly spread my left wing out and brace for impact. I felt nothing... ...I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead-I'm dead-I'm dead-I'm dead-I'm dead-I'm dead-I'm dead... I crack my eyes open to see that I'm alive and well, but I'm basically suspended in mid-air without doing anything. I start to get worried, but I notice that a colorful glow is enveloping my body. It isn't a solid color like a unicorn's magic, but like segments of differently brightly colored glow that outlines my body. Before me was not only my friends, but also every unicorn, pegasus, and earth pony that I've met or even remotely seen. It is quite a sight. Every unicorn's horn is glowing with corresponding colors to each and every unicorn. They're all saving me ... in unison. As soon as my hooves touch the marble floor, the glow vanishes. I gaze up to see how far I've fallen. From down here, it seems a lot higher than what it looked like up there. Nopony could've survived a fall like that without a break from terminal velocity. Well, nopony except for Pinkie Pie, but that's Pinkie Pie. "Gee, thanks everypony. I guess I owe my life to you guys." "Owe nothing, by friend." From out of the massive crowd, the almighty Princess Celestia steps forward. Instinctively I bend to the floor bowing. "Oh please, Rainbow Dash. I will have none of that. After all, this is your surprise party." I hesitate to stand upright, but with a majestic sun god looming over you, it's kind of hard to think straight. "All for me your highness?" "THAT'S RIGHT, RAINBOW DASH. I PERSONALLY MADE ALL THIS JUST FOR YOU!" yells Pinkie Pie. With only Celestia's warm smile, I stand up straight and start to look around. I was not kidding before when every single pony I've met or even seen are here: Princess Luna, the Flim Flam brothers, the cutie mark Crusaders, Mr. and Mrs. Armor, Zecora, the Wonderbolts, even Derpy, they're all here! The only ones not here are Gilda, Trixie, and obviously Discord. The decorations inside are simply outstanding and intense. With the mansion stock full of everything to keep a party going, it is almost like another dream come true. The next thing I hear from Celestia will literally blow me away. "Yo DJ-Pon3, let's get this party started!" (gasping and silence) "What? Everypony needs to take a break once every thousand years. Royalty are still ponies with feelings you know." Vinyl Scratch pulls out a record from one of the panels and plays one of my favorite songs: The Feeling of Flight. Whenever I hear that song, my heart always melts away. The song isn't rock, but electronically majestic and awesome while also fast-paced and inspiring. With occasional lyrics, I can always imagine soaring above the earth with dignity and pride. As soon as the music started, everypony starts to do whatever Pinkie Pie has set up, which depends on each pony. There's apple-bobbing, pin tail on the mare, dance floors, foods, everything to keep this party far from boring. It takes awhile, but soon I finally regroup with my friends. "Pinkie Pie, you've done it again. Every party you throw always seems to be perfect, but to me, this is far beyond perfect." "You're Very Welcome Rainbow Dash!" "No, I mean it. This is all I can ask for. This day truly means so much to me." I can almost feel a tear of joy coming out. "Aw, looks like someone needs a group hug," Twilight says. They all gather around me and give me a big group hug, and this time, I return the favor. I finally tell them my whole side of the story, which they listened eagerly. Everything about this morning, recruitment to the Wonderbolts, Fire Streak, the weather factory, everything. "Well ain't you a darn lucky pony, you got ya' dream job, like, lickety split?" "Yeah, too bad it is only for today, but anything is fine by me." "You sure? You're always just dreaming about join the Wonderbolts," Rarity remarks. "Yeah, I'm sure," I lied. I wanted to join the Wonderbolts for all my life, but never wanted to lose my friends as well. If that ever happens when I get to keep both, then my life would be perfect. Today is that day, but only for today, which saddens me right to the bone. "Y-you ok? Rainbow Dash? Is something bothering you?" Fluttershy interrupts my train of thought. "Oh, its nothing at all Fluttershy." "Ok then." "Rainbow Dash, while you were coming here, you performed something amazing out in the sky. Do you have any idea what it was?" Twilight asks. "Just another Sonic Rainboom." "No, I think it was more than JUST a Sonic Rainboom. You've performed the supposed mythical Sonic Rainboom before multiple times, but not a few moments you performed something much more legendary called the Sonic Rainblast or Sonic Rainbomb. Only legendary pegasi are able to pull it off in ancient days before Discord's reign of terror. Discord was still frozen, that's for sure. But the damage has been done. Discord took away something from pegasi that couldn't be found for a long time. Not even I can explain what it was, but I was taken away for sure. All three tribes weren't the same after that day. You were able to repeat their steps, which means that 'something' has returned inside of you." "Guess I'm legendary now?" "Quite possibly, we'll see this afternoon," Twilight finishes with a grin. The rest of the afternoon went by so quickly that the two hours seems to last only two minutes. The talking, the laughing, the dancing, the eating, everypony is having a blast, even the Princesses are enjoying herself. I still have to get Princess Luna later for what happened at Nightmare Night. Soon, however, two o'clock came closer and closer. Slowly everypony drained out of the mansion and left for the stadium. The only ponies that stayed behind were me, my friends, and rest of the Wonderbolt crew. "Good luck, Rainbow Dash," Rarity says. "Yes, Good Luck! Hope You Do Well!" Pinkie shouts. "Thanks guys." And with that my friends also leave for the stadium. I turn around to face the Wonderbolts. "What now?" "You know what. It's showtime!" Soarin' cheers. "Last one to the backstage is a rotten apple!" Spitfire yells. Instantly the crew zooms past me out the door. I literally spun around in a circle from their sudden speed. "Hey, no fair!" With a feeling of sheer determination, I pull down my goggles and kick off the front porch to chase them down.